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Hostels Guide > Australia & Oceania > New Zealand > South Island > Franz Josef Hostels > Chateau Franz Backpackers

Chateau Franz Backpackers

Franz Josef

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Hostels in Franz Josef

Address	8 -10 Cron Street, Franz Josef South Island, New Zealand Map
Price	dorm beds range from $20 - $26, motel units are $95-$120 Check Current Prices by Date Here

Location/Contact

Details

Their Description

Features

Lounge / Common space
Hot tub / jacuzzi
BBQ
TV
Movie Library/Rental
Book Collection/Exchange
Washing Machine (laundry)
Clothes Dryer
Travel information provided
24 Hour Free Hot Showers
Kitchen
Phones (public or in room)

The Hostelz.com Review

The Chateau Franz is an excellent hostel, located in the small tourist-oriented town of Franz Joseph. This town is famous for its glacier of the same name, which is an awesome sight.

The facilities at Chateau Franz are very clean and functional. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating. There is a wide selection of videos, which are free to rent. There is a nice spa pool to relax in, which is quite a treat after a cold day hiking around the glacier. They have the standard backpackers internet service and the rooms are pretty standard as well, but definitely clean and adequate.

The things that makes Chateau Franz stand out, besides the spa pool, are the nice large TV screen, and free soup every night! These things are quite a treat after a long day. Also, there is a lot of fun, colorful art painted all over the exterior walls, which helps to liven the mood and atmosphere.

The town of Franz Joseph is quite small, so it won't be hard to find Chateau Franz, located conveniently in town next to all the other hostels and hotels. If you find yourself checking out the glacier, Chateau Franz is a great option for accommodation.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2004

Ratings & Comments

3.6 Average from 8 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by Glynis Reay, UK

November 2008

Smashing
A really quirky place. I stayed in a motel room, with a shelf-full of memorabilia of past times and old photographs of the surrounding area. The kitchen area was well equipped. The room had a table and chairs and a comfy sofa on which to relax after a long day. The dressing room/shower and separate toilet were very clean and the shower hot and powerful. To cap it all, there was a TV with all channels. The rest of the complex was almost surreal, with the buildings decorated with old tools, horseshoes, and findings in general. The staff were extremely helpful and Robin and Helen are an asset to this place. And yummy free soup too. And a book exchange. Go there -- it's a treat and so different from faceless establishments. One to remember!

Comment by Jonathon Chambers, United Kingdom

April 2007

This place is pretty rancid. It smells a bit a house that on old lady lives in shortly before sh*t snuffs it and can't keep the place clean anymore and is too proud to accept help. In fact it smells a little like what it would smell like after she died. Worst hostel I stayed at in entire NZ. Kitchen is pretty skanky too.

Comment by Lou

February 2007

Good place, each six-bed dorm has a kitchenette and en-suite so not too bad. old bedclothes though, use your sleeping bag if you have one. Free popcorn with TV and video in each dorm. Buy your food before arriving in Franz, as supermarket there is a huge rip off as is the petrol station shop.

Comment by Maria

August 2006

Pretty good hostel with very comfortable beds. One big minus is that there are not enough toilets or showers leading to huge queues in the morning.

Comment by Anonymous

February 2006

Not so impressed- bathrooms were poorly stocked and facilities seemed poorly maintained (door knob to private shower hanging and didn't latch properly). Carpet was old and held many odors.

Comment by Anonymous

May 2005

It was ok. Our double room was very dirty and I don't think it had been cleaned at all prior to the guests before us being in there. I don't think we would stay here again or recommend it. It was also expensive, but one good point is that there is free soup!!

Comment by Team Canada w/ Captn America

March 2005

This hostel is THE BEST! The rooms are really clean, and if you're travelling in a group you can get rooms with self-contained kitchens and bathrooms! The staff are really friendly (we LOVE OSCAR!) and the hostel is situated really close to everything you need!

Comment by Becky

December 2004

I've stayed here several times, in a variety of rooms. One of its advantages is its variety of rooms — from dorms to motel-like rooms to twin rooms to en suite group rooms and more. The soup is great....as long as you're there at the right time to get it! I've always found the staff friendly and helpful and the place has always been clean. One of the kitchen/lounge areas tends to be quieter, which is nice if you're staying a while.

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Hostels in Franz Josef

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